Pavel Bure in for the experience of a lifetime

Pavel Bure listens during a news conference ahead of a charity function for the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL on Thursday, April 4, 2013.

Photograph by: Darryl Dyck
, THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER - Markus Naslund has an idea what Pavel Bure will experience on Saturday when the Russian Rocket's No. 10 will be raised to the rafters at Rogers Arena, never again to be worn by a Vancouver Canuck player.

Naslund's No. 19 was retired three years ago. His was the third number to be so honoured after Stan Smyl's No. 12 and Trevor Linden's No. 16. Bure will be the fourth.

“It's something you never expect when you're in the middle of your active career and playing the game,” said Naslund, who has flown in from Sweden to be part of the Bure festivities. “I think it's an outstanding honour for yourself and, if you do have a family, it means a lot to them, too. It's definitely a nice touch after you've finished your career.”

Naslund played two seasons with Bure from 1996-98. Naslund was still an emerging star while the Rocket was already a full-fledged force in the NHL, having twice scored 60 goals and won a Calder Trophy. Bure's electrifying career came as no surprise to Naslund.

“Pavel was definitely a unique player and I remember watching him even before he came over to the NHL,” said Naslund. “I remember being in awe of the stuff he was doing, his ability to combine his speed with his skill and the desire he had to score every time he got the puck.

“It was definitely something special – and it was great to have a chance to watch him closely when I got traded to Vancouver.”

Smyl was honoured by the Canucks for his dogged determination and perseverance during 13 seasons in which the team never played above .500, although the Canucks did make one unlikely trip to the Stanley Cup final in 1982. Smyl had some excellent offensive seasons, too, once scoring 78 and 88 points in back-to-back years. But even he admits he never had the natural talent of the Russian Rocket.

“I know a lot of players like myself dreamed of doing the sorts of things Pavel did,” said Smyl, who was an assistant coach with the Canucks during Bure's seven seasons on the team. “I think that's the biggest thing I can remember about him is how exciting he was and the way he could bring the fans out of their seats with his pure speed and what he could do with the puck.

“We probably haven't had the success that we've wanted as a team and as an organization over the years but there are some players who have made an impact in the game just by pure numbers and Pavel was one of those guys.”

Defenceman Dave Babych and Bure arrived in Vancouver the same season – 1991-92 – and played nearly seven years together. They combined on some big moments, too. It was Babych who passed to Jeff Brown, who then relayed to Bure for the Game 7 double overtime winner against the Calgary Flames in the opening playoff round in 1994. Then it was Bure to Babych for the winner in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final against the New York Rangers, keeping the Canucks alive in the series when they were down 3-1.

“Absolutely Pavel does deserve to have his jersey retired,” Babych stated. “That should be a given, no doubt, just like him being in the Hall of Fame. It's ridiculous for anyone to think different.”

Like most hockey people, Babych was awestruck by Bure's debut game in a Canuck uniform Nov. 5, 1991 when he went to end-to-end several times against the Winnipeg Jets. Although the Rocket didn't score in that game, the floodgates soon opened and Bure went on to net 34 goals in 65 games and become NHL rookie of the year.

“No one knew what to expect when we got Pavel,” Babych recalled. “There are a lot of guys who come over who aren't seen by us, and we don't have any information on them, but when Pavel came in and you saw him go, you just knew there was something there that was special.

“He still had to prove himself even after that first game,” added Babych. “Speed was one thing and then we realized his hands were just as fast and he could shoot just as hard as anyone. When you put all that together, that's a Hall of Famer right there. With Pavel, all you had to do was give him the puck and watch him go. It was fun. And you know what? He was a terrific teammate. He was one of the best teammates I ever had.”

Cliff Ronning played five seasons with the Russian Rocket and considers No. 10's jersey retirement a “fabulous” thing."

“Pavel Bure was a player who changed the game,” said Ronning. “He was the Canucks' first superstar. I was fortunate to be on the team when he broke in and there was so much hype around him. When he showed up at Britannia Arena for his first practice, it was utterly like a rock star coming to town. It was amazing. We knew from his first practice, this kid is something else. He skated like no one we had ever seen and he had great hands.

“I'm very excited for him that he's having his jersey retired. I think it's exciting for all of British Columbia.”

The jersey retirement ceremony is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Saturday. Puck drop between the Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs will follow at 4:20.

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